The biggest mistake in NASCAR is assuming that a driver promotion only involves the driver. Corey Heim is expected to move to a full-time Cup Series ride in 2027, replacing Riley Herbst in the No. 35 Toyota, but the situation may be more complicated than it appears. If 23XI Racing does not make the right decisions, a project that looks promising could face unexpected challenges.
Kenny Wallace believes the real issue is not Heim’s promotion, but what happens with crew chief Bootie Barker. Speaking in a video on X, Wallace questioned whether the successful Heim-Barker partnership will stay together.
He said that in an ideal situation, 23XI Racing would simply move Barker and Heim together into the full-time team, perhaps even keeping the No. 67 identity. However, Wallace suggested he has heard that Barker may not want to work a full 36-race schedule, leaving Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan with a difficult decision.
This changes the conversation entirely. Heim replacing Herbst is widely expected, but the possibility of Barker not following him creates a much bigger concern. Despite running only part-time, Heim and Barker have become one of the strongest combinations in the Cup Series.
The duo won at the Naval Base Coronado event and later captured the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis. Two victories in just 15 starts is an exceptional record and has generated attention usually reserved for championship contenders rather than a developmental program.
Barker has openly praised Heim’s work ethic and even said the young driver has the ability to elevate a team in a way that reminds him of a young Jeff Gordon. Still, keeping the partnership together may not be entirely in 23XI Racing’s control.
The main complication is Barker himself. After the 2024 season, he was moved out of Bubba Wallace’s full-time crew chief position into a broader organizational role within 23XI Racing. If he is no longer interested in committing to a full-time Cup schedule, the team must decide whether to find a new crew chief for Heim or convince Barker to return to the road full-time.